Mel Brooks at 100: The Producers cast choose iconic quotes

Happy birthday to Mel Brooks!

The legendary writer and performer turns 100 today as celebrations continue in London at the hit revival of his iconic musical, The Producers.

We asked the company to tell us their favourite of his quotes and share their stories working with the man himself.

Marc Antolin

One of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life was waiting for Mel Brooks’ approval to play Leo Bloom in this new revival of The Producers. I’d been told the role was mine if Mel said yes. Three days after sending off my audition tapes, I received an email from Patrick Marber with the subject line, “You can do it.” Inside was the news that Mel had warmly approved and had apparently been showing my audition tape to people, saying, “That’s our Leo Bloom.”

One of my favourite Mel Brooks memories is watching him on The One Show. The presenters had just moved from a deeply emotional segment about someone tracking down their long-lost father to interviewing him about Young Frankenstein, and Mel simply looked around and said, “What a crazy show this is… this is nuts!” It was such a quintessential Mel Brooks moment. At 100, he remains one of comedy’s great originals, and I will always treasure the fact that, for one brief moment, he looked at an audition tape and said, “That’s our Leo Bloom.”

Megan Armstrong

This one is from swing wing because it goes with having to be ready for anything! “Hope for the best, expect the worst. Life is a play, we’re unrehearsed.”

Trevor Ashley

I have too many Mel Brooks moments to count – from Blazing Saddles to Men in Tights, but my all-time favourite stupid gag is from Young Frankenstein, where every time Frau Blucher’s name is mentioned, it’s accompanied by a horse whinny. For absolutely no reason. Just mad.

Helen Clarkson (DSM)

My favourite quote is in Springtime: “Heil myself, watch my show, I’m the German Ethel Merman, don’t you know.”

Raj Ghatak

“I have bad taste with a deep fount of intellectuality.”

Matt Gillett (resident director)

“Actors are not animals! They are human beings!” “They are? Have you ever eaten with one?”

Andy Nyman

I have been a fan of Mel’s since I was 12, when I sat with my parents and cried with laughter at Blazing Saddles. Playing Max Bialystock has been one of the great honours of my 40-year career. He is a genius…or should I say a JEWnius.

Joanna Woodward